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Love Memorial Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1304^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 13% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Love Memorial Elementary is a small school in Lincolnton, NC, serving roughly 315 students in grades PK-5 as part of Lincoln County Schools. The school’s state ranking has fallen steadily over the last seven years, from the 66th percentile in 2018-2019 to the 13th percentile in 2025-2026, a decline from 3 stars to just 1 star. Third graders start the year reasonably close to state averages in reading and math, but scores collapse by 4th and 5th grade. For example, 4th grade math proficiency is just 35.1% compared to the district’s 65.8%, and 5th grade science proficiency is 39.5% versus the district’s 76.3%. This pattern suggests the school is losing momentum as students move into upper elementary grades.

Just over 99% of Love Memorial students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, yet nearby high-poverty schools demonstrate much stronger results. Battleground Elementary, only about 2 miles away, serves a nearly identical student population (97% low-income) but ranks in the 75th percentile statewide, and its 5th grade math proficiency was 87.1% compared to Love Memorial’s 39.5%. Union Elementary (99% low-income) ranks in the 80th percentile, and Iron Station Elementary (98.6% low-income) ranks in the 62nd. These comparisons show that poverty alone does not explain Love Memorial’s outcomes; school-level factors are clearly at play.

One of the most striking challenges is chronic absenteeism. In 2024-2025, 24.7% of Love Memorial students were chronically absent, well above the district’s 17.2% and much higher than nearby schools like Iron Station (15.2%) and Union (15.7%). At its recent peak, roughly one in three students was chronically absent. The school actually spends more per student ($12,264) and has smaller class sizes than many higher-performing neighbors, yet these resources have not translated into stronger academic results. A small bright spot is the 3rd grade cohort’s relatively solid performance, offering hope that with deliberate attention to attendance and intervention, the trend could stabilize.

315

Students ?

12.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

1463 Love Memorial Sch Rd
Lincolnton, NC 28092-9032

(704) 735-5649

District: Lincoln County Schools

Students who attend Love Memorial Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	West Lincoln Middle
High:	West Lincoln High

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.5%

Hispanic:

12.1%

Two or more races:

6.0%

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Compare Love Memorial Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 48th percentile in 2016 → 13th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (42% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 35 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school42%

District avg65%

North Carolina avg61%

1,304^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 35 pts since 2016

From bottom 48% (2016) to bottom 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

75^th of 246Lincoln County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	18.7	1304 of 1492	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.6	1194 of 1490	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.1	1207 of 1505	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.7	1043 of 1502	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.9	1139 of 1514	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	44.3	796 of 1489	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.3	500 of 1473	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.2	532 of 1434	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	53.8	686 of 1429	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	49.6	743 of 1425	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	50.8	737 of 1440	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	60.2	533 of 1390	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	60.0	522 of 1403	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	61.5	567 of 1388	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	78.5	227 of 1381	83.6%	★★★★☆
2010	73.8	318 of 1363	76.7%	★★★★☆
2009	60.4	600 of 1354	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2008	63.6	480 of 1324	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	64.7	447 of 1293	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	62.1	501 of 1276	60.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	18.3	1291 of 1447	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	16.0	1320 of 1451	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.8	1306 of 1455	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.1	1096 of 1459	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.2	1181 of 1458	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	44.0	770 of 1440	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	68.7	408 of 1424	71.3%	★★★★☆
2018	47.8	786 of 1405	44.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	22.2	1257 of 1434	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.8	1171 of 1437	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.0	1063 of 1450	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	45.9	793 of 1437	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.2	648 of 1366	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.6	391 of 1329	70.6%	★★★★☆
2019	75.1	225 of 1361	83.5%	★★★★☆
2018	76.8	193 of 1332	85.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	21.3	1243 of 1451	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.9	1012 of 1450	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.7	1047 of 1464	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.4	962 of 1461	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.4	1042 of 1464	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	43.2	799 of 1444	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.3	588 of 1430	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	74.6	303 of 1413	78.6%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	17.0	771 of 815	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	61.2	205 of 801	74.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	8.5	1114 of 1146	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.0	1149 of 1172	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.8	1148 of 1166	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.3	1099 of 1183	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.9	1165 of 1194	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	18.1	1055 of 1172	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.8	823 of 1183	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.8	847 of 1178	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2026)14th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)12th percentile~ school

Female (2026)11th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)5th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)3rd percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics45%-18 vs state

Science39%-28 vs state

Reading39%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Love Memorial Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Love Memorial Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1463 Love Memorial Sch Rd	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 735-5649	315	25	12.4	—	244 (77.5%)	10 (3.2%)	38 (12.1%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.0%)	18.7	1304^th of 1492 public elementary schools	12.6%		24.6	1194^th of 1490 public elementary schools	19.9%	110	61.5	35.1	39.5	53.8	29.7	32.6	39.5	$12,264	$1,597	$10,666
S Ray Lowder Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	350 Kennedy Dr	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 735-2741	306	23	13.4	97.4%	152 (49.7%)	50 (16.3%)	71 (23.2%)	6 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (8.8%)	41.8	883^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	40.8%		47.2	798^th of 1490 public elementary schools	46.4%	85	51.1	65.2	51.4	46.8	58.7	51.4	62.9	$10,042	$1,245	$8,797
Battleground Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	301 Jeb Seagle Dr	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 736-1626	420	32	13.1	97.1%	190 (45.2%)	66 (15.7%)	118 (28.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (10.7%)	72.2	374^th of 1492 public elementary schools	74.9%		71.3	369^th of 1490 public elementary schools	75.2%	5	88.2	71.0	87.1	70.6	54.8	48.4	80.6	$9,785	$1,121	$8,664
GE Massey Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	130 Newbold St	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 735-2322	370	27	13.6	—	175 (47.3%)	63 (17.0%)	103 (27.8%)	7 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.9%)	31.1	1071^st of 1492 public elementary schools	28.2%		31.2	1070^th of 1490 public elementary schools	28.2%	1	70.2	55.4	41.5	43.9	41.5	41.5	53.7	$9,086	$1,289	$7,797
Childers Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2595 Rock Dam Road	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 736-9610	418	30	13.7	97.1%	306 (73.2%)	10 (2.4%)	81 (19.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.5%)	30.6	1078^th of 1492 public elementary schools	27.7%		42.6	868^th of 1490 public elementary schools	41.7%	210	40.7	49.3	66.2	33.9	40.3	43.1	69.2	$9,897	$1,409	$8,488
Iron Station Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4207 Hwy 27 E	Iron Station	28080	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 736-4292	367	29	12.6	—	279 (76.0%)	16 (4.4%)	43 (11.7%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (7.1%)	61.1	563^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	62.3%		77.3	288^th of 1490 public elementary schools	80.7%	275	71.0	74.5	68.9	40.3	59.6	62.2	77.8	$10,349	$1,187	$9,162
Union Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4875 Reepsville Rd	Vale	28168	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 276-1493	342	22	15.2	—	310 (90.6%)	2 (0.6%)	15 (4.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.1%)	76	302^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	79.8%		72.4	356^th of 1490 public elementary schools	76.1%	54	74.1	72.6	77.6	58.6	69.4	61.2	89.8	$10,166	$909	$9,257
Cherryville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-3	700 East Academy Street	Cherryville	28021	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9115	378	28	13.5	—	290 (76.7%)	26 (6.9%)	37 (9.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.1%)								(n/a)	65.3			49.0				$10,948	$1,062	$9,886
W B Beam Intermediate School	Public	4-5	401 East First Street	Cherryville	28021	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9114	191	10	18.4	—	128 (67.0%)	23 (12.0%)	29 (15.2%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.2%)	43	860^th of 1492 public elementary schools	42.4%		48.9	761^st of 1490 public elementary schools	48.9%	99		60.2	53.1		56.6	45.9	65.3	$9,330	$1,251	$8,080
Tryon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2620 Tryon Courthouse Road	Bessemer City	28016	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9107	336	26	12.7	97.6%	229 (68.2%)	29 (8.6%)	49 (14.6%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.4%)	22.3	1239^th of 1492 public elementary schools	17.0%		25.7	1163^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	21.9%	76	43.9	43.8	54.1	34.1	47.9	43.2	54.1	$11,346	$1,912	$9,434

Frequently Asked Questions about Love Memorial Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Love Memorial Elementary?

Students at Love Memorial Elementary are 77% White, 12% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% African American.

Is Love Memorial Elementary a good school?

Love Memorial Elementary ranks in the bottom 12.6% of North Carolina elementary schools.

How many students attend Love Memorial Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 315 students attended Love Memorial Elementary.

What district is Love Memorial Elementary in?

Lincoln County Schools

What schools do graduates of Love Memorial Elementary attend?

Students who attend Love Memorial Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : West Lincoln Middle
High : West Lincoln High

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.